铅中毒 (qiān zhòng dú) — lead poisoning

Definition

noun

lead poisoning

铅中毒。
Cháng qī jiē chù qiān huì dǎo zhì qiān zhòng dú.
Long-term exposure to lead can cause lead poisoning.
铅中毒。
qiān zhòng dú De zhèng zhuàng bāo kuò tóu tòng hé fù tòng.
Symptoms of lead poisoning include headache and abdominal pain.
铅中毒。
Yī shēng jiàn yì tā jiǎn chá shì fǒu yǒu qiān zhòng dú.
The doctor suggested he check for lead poisoning.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

中毒poisoning

动宾Verb + object

铅 names the substance, and 中毒 describes being affected by 毒.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鉛; 铅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

㕣

㕣㕣鉛qiān

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form 鉛 pairs 金 (metal) with 㕣 as a sound part.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

屮屮chèvegetation

Sound part声符shēngfú

毐

毐ǎi毒dú

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

毒 pairs 屮, a plant part, with 毐 as a sound part; this form was used for a poisonous plant.